Bike refuses to warm up, Triumph Tiger.

[Galviniser]

Hey again,

I'm sick of this problem now, I can't find what it is, my engine refuses to warm up, its a triumph tiger 885, I've changed the thermostat for a brand new one and put a brand new housing in and also a brand new temp sensor, I had to blank my radiator off for the moment to help it come above the cold meter, what the hell could it be!

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[rictus01]

We're talking an old T3 ( 93-98 ) here I take it ?, Now when you say it won't warm up, exactly what do you mean, if the engine is running then the heat source is there, it will warm up unless it cuts out, a little more detail is called for if you want real help, if you want wild guesses then I'm sure you'll get plenty of those.

Without details, I'll presume (at this stage) the engine runs and the bike rides, it actually gets warm, but doesn't read as warm and the water in the cooling system isn't circulating, two possibilities come to mind, first an airlock/ blockage in the system, I haven't time this morning to dig out my manual, but I believe it's covered in there, but a strip and flush would be advisable also a check of the rad to make sure it's flowing water ok.

should that prove fruitless and everything is fine, I'd check the waterpump next to confirm it's actually moving fluid and the impeller is still attached to the shaft, as you've changed the sensor and thermostat; that only leaves wiring from the sensor to check.

I get a lot of these type of reactions to problems that aren't a "quick fix", a systematic diagnostic approach will always find the problem, did you test the thermostat or sensor before changing them/ what made you think it was those parts that needed changing ?



Cheers Mark.

[Galviniser]

We're talking an old T3 ( 93-98 ) here I take it ?, Now when you say it won't warm up, exactly what do you mean, if the engine is running then the heat source is there, it will warm up unless it cuts out, a little more detail is called for if you want real help, if you want wild guesses then I'm sure you'll get plenty of those.

Without details, I'll presume (at this stage) the engine runs and the bike rides, it actually gets warm, but doesn't read as warm and the water in the cooling system isn't circulating, two possibilities come to mind, first an airlock/ blockage in the system, I haven't time this morning to dig out my manual, but I believe it's covered in there, but a strip and flush would be advisable also a check of the rad to make sure it's flowing water ok.

should that prove fruitless and everything is fine, I'd check the waterpump next to confirm it's actually moving fluid and the impeller is still attached to the shaft, as you've changed the sensor and thermostat; that only leaves wiring from the sensor to check.

I get a lot of these type of reactions to problems that aren't a "quick fix", a systematic diagnostic approach will always find the problem, did you test the thermostat or sensor before changing them/ what made you think it was those parts that needed changing ?



Cheers Mark.

Cheers for that answer pal, I know the radiator is okay, I have flushed the system many times, I was thinking of using that cleaning fluid to see if that works, the engine temperature warms up a bit but doesn't get above cold, I only changed them parts because they were the easiest and most common problems o change, the Haynes manual doesn't say much really, I never tested out as such,how do I do that?

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[Galviniser]

Couldn't there be too much water going round? Thayswhy it stone cold?

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[Sid Squid]

Does the radiator get hot? If yes, then test the gauge/sender/wiring. Typically taking the wire from the sender off should have the gauge all the way to cold, and grounding it on a clean, bare metal chassis or engine surface should have all the way to hot. If that's what happens, then the gauge and wiring are likely fine, and the fault lies with the sender or sometimes it's connection/s.

You've changed the thermostat, let's assume for a moment that the new one is OK, if so the other parts of the system failing are far more likely to cause overheating than overcooling, an obstructed or blocked system or a damaged pump won't cool it down.

[Galviniser]

Does the radiator get hot? If yes, then test the gauge/sender/wiring. Typically taking the wire from the sender off should have the gauge all the way to cold, and grounding it on a clean, bare metal chassis or engine surface should have all the way to hot. If that's what happens, then the gauge and wiring are likely fine, and the fault lies with the sender or sometimes it's connection/s.

You've changed the thermostat, let's assume for a moment that the new one is OK, if so the other parts of the system failing are far more likely to cause overheating than overcooling, an obstructed or blocked system or a damaged pump won't cool it down.

I haven't felt the radiator but the engine is warm because I use it sometimes when its cold to warm my hands on at the lights, the gauge shoots up to hot when you earth it out. I have exactly the same problem with my Zzr but I don't really ride that as much so I haven't looked at it

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[Galviniser]

im home now, on my computer instead of typing on them stupid phones, i forgot to mention that this is while im riding the bike, if im sat for a while in traffic or something of the kind it starts to warm up, but as soon as you start to move again the temperature just goes right down again

[Spank86]

Did it do this in the summer?

[Galviniser]

havent had the bike that long, got it in december, but it should still be at operating temperature even in the winter shouldnt it, my sv was when i had that

[rb8989]

I don't know the bike, but some bikes are 'cold blooded'. That is, when you're moving the temp is on cold or marginally above it. My zx7r only gets to about halfway if you let it idle for a while and then the fan kicks in. Reads as cold as it did when you started it when you're moving.

[stuR]

My cb500 barely gets off cold on any trip, even if its baking hot. The only time its got remotely near the red was a ride called the toy run in reading which was about 7 miles at about an average of 15/20mph.

[Galviniser]

Surely the bike isn't made to run like this, my thermostat is set at 83 deg


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[Bluefish]

The gauge will go down when your moving, it's bloody cold out there, does the temp go up if left idling after a run?

[Galviniser]

Yeah but not that much to send it into cold, it does but it takes ages, but then like isaid, once you move it will shot right into the cold again


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[Dicky Ticker]

If it is of any consolation to you my Sprint is not getting hot in this weather either.The temp gauge barely moves off the bottom of the scale but it is due to the ambient temperature. Remember when you are moving there is a chill factor making it even colder. The only time my bike is coming up to anyplace near normal running temperature is in heavy stop-go traffic and even then it will take a couple of miles.
Your problem with low temperature is nothing to worry about, if it was high temperature you would have a problem. I suggest living with it for another couple of weeks till the weather gets better and reappraise the situation then.

[yorkie_chris]

Pull thermostat back out, test it in pan of water.
Do same with sender unit.

Can't be much else really unless your cooling system is scaled up to death and it is actually overheating.


The gauge will go down when your moving, it's bloody cold out there, does the temp go up if left idling after a run?

They should be stable, whatever the weather really. Worst I saw a few weeks ago was -7 and pretty much a white out with snow... diesel in van was still a steady 80 degrees.

[Dicky Ticker]

Try two simple things
1]Remove the thermostat and place it in a pan of boiled water,is it opening freely,if it is opening and closing freely when placed in cold water, try two.
2] Blank off the bottom half of the radiator and if your water temperature is coming up near normal operating temperature then it is just the cold weather.

[Galviniser]

I tested the brand new thermostat before I put it in and its right, I never tested the sensor, it can't be the cold weather and the engine can't be made like that, its only old bikes tho, that's what I don't understand, and the fan come on when it gets near hot

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[Galviniser]

And I've blanked about 70% of it off now just to get it above cold, but I shouldn't have to do that

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[Dicky Ticker]

Galvaniser,If you go into any of the Triumph forums you will find it is quite common,cold running on Tigers or 955i engines. You have flushed the system and checked/replaced the sender and thermostat made sure the coolant is circulating so put it down to the weather.

Feel the radiator top and bottom,is it just warm and is the engine hot,if so perfectly normal--------------for a 955i engine.
I would not expect my fan to be kicking in in this weather,wait till the summer and you will wonder if it ever goes off---------it is just a characteristic of the engine,I have lived with it for ten years without problems.